Women’s History Month is a time to recognize and appreciate the contributions of women throughout history. At Osbourn High School, students and staff shared their thoughts on what this month means to them and how the school can do more to celebrate the achievements of women. As Osbourn High School continues to explore new ways to honor these achievements, students and teachers alike agree that more can always be done to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women.

When asked what Women’s History Month means to her, Shannon Morgan, a social studies teacher, explained that it’s a chance to highlight the women who are often left out of history books. “It’s important to shine a spotlight on women in our community and in Manassas,” she said. “We could add more, like daily facts or features about important women.” Morgan thinks the month should include stories of women from both the past and present, showing how they’ve shaped the world around us. She also believes that the school should continue expanding its recognition of women’s impact, not just during March.

Dr. Wallace, another teacher at Osbourn, agreed and added that many women’s contributions don’t always get the recognition they deserve. “We need to put a spotlight on women’s contributions in history because a lot of times they get left out of the history books,” Dr. Wallace said. She also mentioned Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman to serve in Congress and the first woman to run for president in 1972. “Shirley Chisholm was the first black woman in Congress and the first woman to run for president in 1972,” she pointed out. Dr. Wallace believes highlighting women like Chisholm helps students learn about a more accurate and complete history.

For some students, celebrating Women’s History Month means more than just reading about it. Natalie Cook, a 12th grader, thinks the school should offer a class focused on women’s history. “Our school should celebrate Women’s History by having a class and making sure to educate everyone about the contributions women have made,” Cook said. She also talked about Marie Curie, the scientist who discovered polonium and radium, which helped in cancer research and nuclear physics. “Marie Curie discovered polonium and named it after Poland, discovered nuclear fission, and paved the way for cancer research,” Cook said. “She is the only person to have ever won two Nobel Prizes in two different fields—chemistry and physics.” Cook’s example of Curie shows how important women have been to science, and why it’s crucial to remember their achievements.

Mr. Nathan Whitley, a social studies teacher, shared his thoughts on how we should celebrate women’s achievements. “We usually compare women’s achievements to men’s, but women’s accomplishments should be celebrated on their own,” Whitley said. He believes that when we compare women’s achievements to those of men, we miss the true value of what they’ve done. Whitley suggests that rather than focusing on comparisons, we should simply honor women for their accomplishments and the impact they’ve made.

In Manassas, there have been several efforts to celebrate Women’s History Month, and Osbourn High School is playing an active role in that recognition. Dr. Wallace mentioned that the school has been making strides to honor women’s contributions, with ideas to focus more on local women in the community. However, there is still plenty of room for growth. Whether by offering a dedicated class or organizing additional events, there are many ways Osbourn High could enhance its celebration of women.

Shannon Morgan suggested that Osbourn could highlight important women with daily facts or spotlights throughout the month. “We could add more… the reason it’s being done is largely due to me and Dr. Wallace’s efforts,” Morgan said, expressing how there is still room for improvement in how the school celebrates women. Dr. Wallace agreed that women’s contributions should be celebrated all year, not just in March. “We want to pick songs that go well with women’s history for the intercom,” Dr. Wallace said, suggesting that ongoing attention to women’s contributions would better reflect their importance.

In honor of Women’s History Month, we asked both teachers and students about the women they look up to. Ms. Miller, our broadcast journalism teacher, shared, “I look up to so many different women for different reasons. I love the story of Lilly Pulitzer. She admitted in the 1950s that she was struggling with self-esteem issues and felt like she had no purpose in life. She was encouraged to find something to do and stay busy, so she started a juice stand in Florida. She was successful, but her clothes were messy and juice-stained at the end of each day. This inspired her to make colorful print dresses to wear, as the bright colors would hide the juice stains. Her dresses became so popular that fashion design became her focus. Her stores are still successful today!”

Ms. Mihalo, one of our English teachers, shared that she doesn’t look up to one specific woman but acknowledges the sacrifices made by women before her. “Women who lived before me had to sacrifice something to live in this world, and thanks to them, women can stand up for themselves today,” she said.

Priscilla Interiano, a freshman at Osbourn High School, said she looks up to Rosa Parks for the historical impact she had by standing up for herself. Pamela Quiroz, another freshman, looks up to Frida Kahlo, as Kahlo was never afraid to show her true self through her art. Irene, a senior, explained that while she doesn’t look up to a specific woman from history, she admires her mother for being strong, knowing how to live life the right way, and enjoying it to the fullest.

In the past, women didn’t have the same rights as men, but thanks to the efforts of those who made significant contributions, much has changed. Women today have many more rights than they once did. When asked what can be done to make women’s voices heard more in today’s world, Ms. Mihalo responded, “In today’s world, we can start by ensuring women’s voices are heard in the political sphere. If women’s voices can be loud in this area of society, positive changes will eventually be made to support the women of our country—and hopefully the rest of the world, too.”

Catherine Ayala, a freshman at Osbourn High, shared her thoughts, saying, “Speak up for one another as women and do not bring each other down.”

Finally, I asked the teachers what young women or students can do to make an impact in the world today, especially now that women have more rights and opportunities than in the past. Ms. Miller encouraged, “Be confident and be willing to take risks professionally. Lift up other women, even in small ways. Compliment another female each day—it might be the only kind words she hears that day!”

Ms. Mihalo added, “Young women today can enter fields and domains that were once not available to them. These fields allow them to change the world for the better while showing the world that they are just as capable as their male counterparts. For example, having more women specialize in politics, science, medicine, conservation, and other areas will continue to make a huge difference.”

Overall, Women’s History Month serves as a time to reflect on how women have shaped history and the world around us. As Osbourn High School continues to explore new ways to honor these achievements, students and teachers alike agree that more can always be done to celebrate the remarkable contributions of women.